New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced his resignation on Monday, just few hours after a shocking report in The New Yorker detailed four of his former romantic partners’ accusations of physical abuse. This quakes my heart whenever i come across such news. Can Africans learn from this?

He quotes—“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve as Attorney General for the people of the State of New York,” Schneiderman made this known in a statement late Monday. “In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me. While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time.” All he is saying is that he can’t stand it anymore after been accused.

On Monday, Michelle Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam went on the record to say that Schneiderman, who is 63yrs, “repeatedly hit them, and most of them he did under the influence of alcohol. All these frequently happened in bed and never with their consent.” In one instance, Manning Barish said Schneiderman gave her a life threat. He said “if you ever left me, I’d kill you.”

There were indications that shortly after the report bursted, Schneiderman tried to downplay the accusations. He said, “In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity,” he said in a statement. “I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in nonconsensual sex, which is I line I would not cross.”

He was made to step aside withing few hours by his allies including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said from his knowledge and understanding and also given the damning pattern of facts and corroboration laid out in the article, I do not believe it is possible for Eric Schneiderman to continue to serve as attorney general. It’s a show of shame because Schneiderman has long championed women’s causes and has been a vocal supporter of the Me Too Movement. One of his more notable actions as a state senator is tha he has actively involved in the legislation to protect women from domestic abuse, including his sponsorship of the Anti-Strangulation Act in 2010. What a man of hidden substace!.

Manning Barish and Selvaratnam each said the intensity of the abuse from Schneiderman after been choked and slapped had resorted to a medical help during or shortly after their relationships.

Eric Schneiderman

As New York’s senior law enforcement official, It was noted that Schneiderman took huge steps to combat President Donald Trump’s agenda, including pushing to change state law so any Trump aides can be tried for criminal acts they’ve committed in New York even if they have been given a presidential pardon. His office also filed a suit against film producer Harvey Weinstein in February, alleging he was fond of harassing women sexually for years. So sad for Schneiderman, he had been making some moves for re-election in 2018 for what would have been his third term. What a loss.